Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Sam DarnoldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Sam Darnold's 13.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.7 PPG and 4,846 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Sam Darnold (13.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Drake Maye as the starter and Sam Darnold as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBNew England Patriots#2PPG LEADER

Drake Maye

PPG

20.7

Games

Pass Yds

4,394

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

450

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBSeattle Seahawks#27

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

20.7 PPG13.8 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Drake Maye put up 20.7 fantasy points per game for the New England Patriots in 2025, while Sam Darnold managed 13.8 across 17 games with the Seattle Seahawks. A 6.9-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Drake Maye carries a 6.9-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Sam Darnold (4048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 11 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Drake Maye at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Sam Darnold is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Drake Maye (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Sam Darnold (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 117 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye scored 35 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Drake Maye added 450 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Drake Maye is 5 years younger than Sam Darnold (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.
•Both players share a Week 11 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Drake Maye vs Sam Darnold: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Sam Darnold
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	13.8
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	235
Passing Yards	4,394	4,048
Passing TDs	31	25
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	238.1
Rushing Yards	450	95
Rushing TDs	4	0
Total TDs	35	25
TDs/Game	2.1	1.5
Age	23	28
Experience	1 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Drake Maye holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.7 points per game. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Drake Maye or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Sam Darnold's 13.8 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Drake Maye and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.9 points per game.

Do Drake Maye and Sam Darnold share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Drake Maye and Sam Darnold share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Drake Maye or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Sam Darnold by 6.9 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.